UK: Mosque Attacked in East London as Window Smashed, Raising Concerns Over Rising Islamophobia
UK: Mosque Attacked in East London as Window Smashed, Raising Concerns Over Rising Islamophobia
The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has reported an attack on the Hasanah Centre mosque in Stratford, east London, which left one of its front windows shattered and caused damage to the prayer hall and mihrab. The incident has raised renewed concerns about mosque security and the safety of Muslim worshippers across the United Kingdom.
In a statement issued on Monday, November 2, 2026, the council said the incident occurred at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Friday, October 30, when a window overlooking the mosque’s frontage was smashed, sending fragments of glass into the main prayer hall.
The council added that a metal rod penetrated the broken window and struck the wall of the mihrab, causing further damage inside the mosque. No injuries were reported.
According to the MCB, the Metropolitan Police and the area’s Member of Parliament, Uma Kumaran, responded to the incident. However, the identity of those responsible and their motives remain unknown.
Dr Naomi Green, Assistant Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain, noted that the attack took place at the beginning of Islamophobia Awareness Month, observed annually throughout November. She warned against the growing risk of attacks on places of worship being treated as routine incidents rather than serious threats to religious communities.
Green described the incident as part of a wider pattern of intimidation and attacks affecting Muslims across the country. She called on the authorities to address such incidents within the broader context of threats targeting the Muslim community, rather than treating them solely as isolated cases of property damage.
The Muslim Council of Britain also renewed its call for the appointment of a dedicated independent representative to address anti-Muslim hatred, alongside stronger government measures to protect mosques and Islamic institutions.
